Wave Energy Reduction System

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for creating moderately quiescent water in which emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses can endure and eventually establish without the need for eliminating the energy of occurring waves.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) of U.S. applicationSer. No. 13/847,342, filed on Mar. 19, 2013, which claims the benefit ofU.S. Provisional Application No. 61/614,455, filed Mar. 22, 2012,wherein both of these priority applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM LISTINGCOMPACT DISC APPENDIX

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a wave energy reductionmethod and apparatus for creating moderately quiescent water in whichemergent salt marsh wetlands grasses can endure and eventually becomeestablished. To this end, the present invention reduces wave energywithout completely eliminating it.

Spartina alterniflora is a perennial deciduous grass that is found inintertidal wetlands, particularly estuarine salt marshes. S.alterniflora is the primary emergent salt marsh wetlands grass in manyparts of the United States. S. alterniflora is an emergent grass growingout of the water at the seaward edge of beaches with low wave energy.Ninety percent of its biomass is believed to be underground; as such, S.alterniflora naturally accumulates sediment. Over time, this gradualaccumulation of sediment builds the level of the land at the seawardedge of the salt marsh, combating shoreline erosion. S. alterniflora isonly one of numerous species of grasses that can be found in intertidalwetlands throughout the world; all of these grasses play an importantrole in stabilizing shorelines and providing buffers against stormsurges and general erosion.

In many coastal locations where S. alterniflora and other salt marshwetlands grasses once existed, excessive wave energy in coastal watersmakes it difficult, if not impossible, for such grasses to bereestablished. Attempts to establish salt marsh wetland grasses alongthe shoreline typically result in mechanical damage to the plant leavesand, ultimately, death to the plant itself. As a result, the failure toreestablish salt marsh wetlands grasses compounds the problem ofshoreline erosion.

Several solutions currently exist for preventing shoreline erosion, butthese methods hardly address the issue of protecting emergent salt marshwetlands grasses. Instead, these solutions tend to focus upon protectingthe ground itself from the coastal waters as opposed to protecting theemergent salt marsh grasses from wave energy.

One solution is to utilize barriers, such as concrete, rocks or othernon-porous objects, by placing them between the coastal waters and theemergent salt marsh wetlands grasses to block wave energy completely.Such barriers are expensive to purchase, difficult to place, anddifficult to remove. Concrete is heavy, and as such, the time andmanpower to add these barriers can be prodigious.

Another solution is to place biodegradable fiber logs comprising aquantity of loose fibers retained in a tubular casing end-to-end on theshoreline between the coastal waters and the salt marsh wetlandsgrasses. One example of this solution is taught by Spangler et al. (U.S.Pat. No. 6,547,493). This solution, while capable of abating waveenergy, creates the costly step of packing fibers into the tubularcasing. Furthermore, such fiber logs are difficult, if not impossible,to reuse since they are biodegradable. Beyond this, the logs restrictthe accumulation of sediment around the salt-marsh wetland grasses,thereby undermining the very stability of these grasses. As such, theydo not aid in the establishment of emergent salt marsh wetland grasses.

A number of other solutions involve the use of tubing formed fromgeotextiles. However, these have several disadvantages. Most require theinclusion of some type of fill material, making them relatively complexto construct and often impractical for installation and removal bylimited numbers of personnel. Also, the use of fill material willnecessarily limit the amount of sediment allowed to pass through thebarriers, which in turn will compromise the establishment of emergentsalt marsh wetlands grasses. The flow of sediment-filled water in areduced wave energy environment is necessary for emergent salt marshwetland grasses to become established. As water with sediment passesover the grasses, the sediment is deposited upon the grasses,strengthening the support structure for the grasses. Unlike otherinventions, the present invention slows the velocity of the water acrossthe grasses to allow sediment to be deposited more readily.

Theisen (U.S. Pat. No. 7,883,291) teaches a process/apparatus wherein amat of natural fibers is wound in the form of a log to form fiberfiltration tubes. The Theisen process/apparatus further employs aflocculating agent to flocculate fine particles, thereby accomplishing ahigh-degree of sediment control. In sharp contrast, the presentinvention uses no flocculating agent since the flocculation of sedimentparticles within the apparatus would prevent sediment from accumulatingaround emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses. The accumulation ofsediment particles around emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses isessential for the long-term stability of these plants. Therefore byincorporating the use of a flocculant, the Theisen process/apparatuswould compromise the establishment of emergent salt marsh wetlandsgrasses, which is the stated purpose of this invention.

While Myrowich (U.S. App. 2009/0020639) teaches a rolled erosion controlblanket, and a process for manufacturing such a blanket, his process isdirected to optimizing the ability of such a blanket to be rolled up fortransportation purposes. It envisions the unrolling of the blankets atthe work site. This shares the same problem as the teaching of Carpenter(U.S. Pat. No. 7,695,219): a blanket placed flat on the ground islargely useless for protecting salt marsh grasses from wave energy.

It would be desirable to have a method and/or apparatus that will enableemergent salt marsh wetlands grass to establish and grow without totallyeliminating the energy of occurring waves or blocking the flow ofsediment-rich water across the grasses. Furthermore, it would also bedesirable to have a method and/or apparatus that are inexpensive toutilize. Still further, it would be desirable to have a method and/orapparatus that are simple to relocate and reuse. Therefore, therecurrently exists a need in the industry for an inexpensive method and/orapparatus that can (A) protect emergent salt marsh wetlands grasses fromexcessive wave energy while concomitantly allowing sediment to depositonto these grasses, and (B) be relocated to other shores when thesegrasses become stable enough to withstand incoming wave energy.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention advantageously fills the aforementioneddeficiencies by providing a wave energy reduction method and apparatusfor creating moderately quiescent water in which emergent salt marshwetlands grasses can endure and eventually establish without the needfor total elimination of the energy of occurring waves.

Geotextile materials (such as, but not limited to, ENKAMAT fabric) areassembled into rolls. These rolls are bound with cable ties, preferablyties that can withstand ultraviolet light, to maintain their cylindricalshape. The rolls are placed into the water on the soil, end to endwithout space between them, forming a line of geotextile material rolls.

Multiple anchors, preferably comprised of steel, are then placed intothe soil on one side of the line of rolls, preferably on that sideclosest to the coastal waters. These anchors are referred to throughoutthis specification as “wave energy reduction anchors” or simply “steelanchors.” However, the use of the word “steel” or any other descriptionthereto should not be deemed as limiting the composition of the anchorsto any one type of material.

Multiple strands of rope, preferably comprised of polypropylene, areinserted into multiple layers of tubing, preferably polyethylene tubing.Each rope-and-tubing combination is inserted, yet again, into anotherlayer of tubing, preferably polyethylene tubing, to form multiple “ropeties.”

Each “rope tie” is then looped through a unique anchor and underneaththe line of rolls to form the shape roughly similar to that of theletter “U” such that both ends of each “rope tie” are pointing straightup. The ends of each “rope tie” are then tied together, thereby securingthe line of rolls to the anchors.

Although the preferred embodiment for this invention utilizespolypropylene rope combined with polyethylene tubing, the invention mayuse any type of rope, with or without polyethylene tubing. Likewise, theinvention may use any type of tubing to cover the rope, regardless ofwhether the same is made of polyethylene, or no tubing at all.Furthermore, the invention may use any type of cable ties, whether ornot they can resist ultraviolet light. Still further, the invention mayuse any type of anchor, regardless of its composition.

This method and/or apparatus reduce the size and force of incoming wavesas the waves pass through the line of geotextile material rolls. As aresult, moderately quiescent water is created whereby salt marshwetlands grasses can be established and endure. After these grasses havebeen established, the user may then remove the rolls of geotextilematerial, along with the steel earth anchors and the “rope ties,” andplace them elsewhere.

This invention is functionally different from other solutions because itattempts to abate wave energy, not eliminate it altogether. Moreover, byallowing water to pass through the wave energy barrier, sedimentreturning from the coastal waters is not inhibited from attaching to theemergent salt marsh wetlands grasses, further aiding in the preventionof shoreline erosion.

This invention is structurally different from other solutions because itcomprises materials that are readily accessible and cost-effective toutilize. These lightweight materials are easy to transport and areinexpensive to obtain. As such, it only takes one person a short time toinstall, and later remove, a wave energy reduction roll.

Among other things, it is an object of the present invention to protectemergent salt marsh wetlands grasses from wave energy without incurringany of the problems or deficiencies associated with prior solutions.

The present invention now will be described more fully hereinafter withreference to the accompanying drawings, which are intended to be read inconjunction with both this summary, the detailed description and anypreferred and/or particular embodiments specifically discussed orotherwise disclosed. This invention may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as limited to theembodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided byway of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough,complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to thoseskilled in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a top view of the preferred embodiment of the apparatus.

FIG. 2 shows a cross section view of the preferred embodiment of theapparatus, particularly depicting the attachment to the anchor.

FIG. 3 shows the steps to implement the method of utilizing thepreferred embodiment apparatus.

FIG. 4 shows the steps to implement the method of utilizing theapparatus without polyethylene tubes covering the “rope tie” system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a wave energy reduction method andapparatus for creating moderately quiescent water in which emergent saltmarsh wetlands grasses can endure and eventually establish.

The preferred embodiment of the invention is described as follows:

To create the wave energy reduction roll 10, assemble 27 linear feet(8.2 m) of the geotextile fabric into a cylinder form, or roll, that is12-14 inches (30-36 cm) in diameter. The rolls are tied together withblack cable ties 11 to maintain the cylindrical shape of the roll. Tiethe roll together with 48-inch (1.22 m) long and ¼-inch (6.35 mm) wideblack cable ties. The black cable ties will have ultraviolet lightinhibitors and a 175 psi (1.21 MPa) tensile stress rating. Locate thetwo end-of-the-roll cable ties 12 inches (30.5 cm) from each end of theroll. Evenly space the remaining cable ties 2 feet (61 cm) apart alongthe roll. Cable ties will be pulled tightly against the geotextilefabric to secure the material into a rolled form.

When setting the wave reduction rolls in position, place them in thewater, on the soil, so the exposed cut edge is beneath the roll andfacing toward the mainland. This will protect against the possibility ofwave action forces opening up the roll.

Steel earth anchors 12 secured into the soil serve as the method forholding the wave energy reduction rolls in place. Install the ½-inch(12.7 mm) diameter steel earth anchors with tensile strength of 1400 psi(9.65 MPa) into the soil to the point where the eye of the anchor isjust above the soil level. Use three 30-inch (76 cm) long anchors foreach 8-foot (2.4 m) long roll. Locate the anchors 24 inches (61 cm) fromeach end of the roll and the third anchor at the center of the roll.

Two sizes of black polyethylene tubing and polypropylene rope are thefastening elements for attaching the wave energy reduction rolls to theearth anchors. Together these materials create a technology that hasproven effective in establishing emergent marsh grasses.

Attach the roll to each anchor with a 6-foot (1.8 m) long piece of½-inch (12.7 mm) polypropylene rope 13 threaded into the polyethylenetubing. The rope will have a tensile stress of 425 pounds per squareinch (2.93 MPa). The ends of the rope will be heat treated to resistfraying and becoming unraveled. Thread the 6-foot long piece of ropethrough a 24-inch (61 cm) long section of 0.62 ID×0.71 OD inch (15.7ID×18.0 OD mm) polyethylene tubing 14. Thread the aforementioned tubinginto a 21-inch (53 cm) section of 0.83 ID×0.92 OD inch (21.1 ID×23.4 ODmm) tubing 15. The combined tubing layers protect the polypropylene ropefrom abrasion against the steel earth anchor eyelet. Thread the rope andtubing combination through the eyelet and around the wave energyreduction roll. Position the polyethylene tubing in a rough “U” shapearound the roll with the “U” pointing upward. The tubing will extendabout half way up the sides of the roll and the rope will extend to apoint above the roll where it can be pulled tightly and tied. When tyingthe 6 foot long rope together, pull the rope ends tightly against thetop of the roll and secure the rope to the wave reduction roll with 6-8overhand knots. Secure each knot tightly before tying the next knot.

The best mode for utilizing the invention is described as follows:

It is recommended that the invention be used to protect emergent saltmarsh wetlands grasses by placing the wave energy reduction rolls intothe water, just off the shoreline, as described in the preferredembodiment above.

The drawings are further described as follows:

Referring to the figures, FIG. 1 shows the preferred embodiment of theapparatus, which is a wave energy reduction roll. Notice how the roll10, being comprised of geotextile material (preferably ENKAMATmaterial), is rolled such that the exposed edge of the roll is pointedto the beach and away from the incoming waves. The cylindrical shape ofthe roll is maintained by cable ties 11 that are wrapped and tied aroundthe roll at periodic intervals. In the preferred embodiment, five cableties are equally spaced along the roll with the third cable tie beinglocated at the center. Further notice the wave energy reduction rollanchors 12 which are spaced evenly along the side of the roll. Furthernotice that “rope ties” 13 are looped through the anchors and under therolls; notice that these “rope ties” are tied at the top of the roll,thereby securing the roll to the soil.

FIG. 2 shows the cross-section view of the preferred embodiment of theapparatus 10. Notice that the cross-section is cut where a “rope tie” 13is looped through a steel anchor. Further notice that the preferredembodiment uses a “rope tie” mechanism that comprises a rope, which isfed through a 24-inch (61 cm) length of polyethylene tube 14, which isfurther fed through a 21-inch (53 cm) length of a larger-diameterpolyethylene tube 15. The ends of the rope are tied together at the topof the wave energy reduction roll. The multiple layers of polyethylenetubing serve to insulate the rope from fraying the geotextile mat.Please note that the polyethylene tubing is optional, and as such, thespecification is understood to describe the apparatus without thetubing.

FIG. 3, when viewed in conjunction with this description, depicts themethod for creating and utilizing the preferred embodiment of theapparatus. The user starts 30 by assembling geotextile material (suchas, but not limited to, ENKAMAT fabric) into cylindrical rolls that are12-14 inches (30-36 cm) in diameter and 8-feet (2.4 m) long 31. The userthen ties each roll with multiple 48-inch (1.22 m) long and ¼-inch (6.35mm) wide black cable ties 32, locating the two end-of-the-roll cableties 12 inches (30.5 cm) from each end of the roll and evenly spacingthe remaining cable ties 2 feet (61 cm) apart along the roll. The userthen places the rolls in the water, on the soil, end to end withoutspace between them, between the coastline and the coastal waters, withthe exposed cut edge of each roll facing the coastline, to form a lineof geotextile material rolls 33. The user then installs ½-inch (12.7 mm)diameter steel earth anchors, having loop-shaped eyelets and a tensilestrength of 1400 psi (9.65 MPa), into the soil to the point where theeye of the anchor is just above the soil level, using three 30-inch (76cm) long anchors for each 8-foot (2.4 m) long roll and placing theanchors 24 inches (61 cm) from each end of the roll and the third anchorat the center of the roll; the anchors should align along the side ofthe line of rolls that is closest to the coastal waters 34. For eachanchor, the user will utilize one 6-foot (1.8 m) strand of ½-inch (12.7mm) polypropylene rope, having a tensile stress of 425 pounds per squareinch (2.93 MPa) and heat-treated ends, threading each strand of ropethrough a 24-inch (61 cm) long section of 0.62 ID×0.71 OD inch (15.7ID×18.0 OD mm) polyethylene tubing; the user will then thread eachunique rope-and-tubing combination into a 21-inch (53 cm) section of0.83 ID×0.92 OD inch (21.1 ID×23.4 OD mm) polyethylene tubing to form acomposite rope-and-tubing combination for each anchor 35. The user willthread each unique composite rope-and-tubing combination through theeyelet of a unique anchor and then underneath the adjacent wave energyreduction roll, positioning each rope-and-tubing combination in a rough“U” shape underneath the roll with the “U” pointing upward 36. For eachcomposite rope-and-tubing combination, the user will pull the rope endstightly against the top of the roll and secure the rope to the wavereduction roll with 6-8 overhand knots, 37, thereby finishing thepreferred method, 38.

FIG. 4, when viewed in conjunction with this description, depicts themethod for creating and utilizing the apparatus, without the addition ofpolyethylene tubing to the “rope tie” system. The user starts 40 byassembling geotextile material (such as, but not limited to, ENKAMATfabric) into cylindrical rolls 41. The user then ties each roll withmultiple black cable ties 42. The user then places the rolls in thewater, on the soil, end to end, between the coastline and the coastalwaters, with the exposed cut edge of each roll facing the coastline, toform a line of geotextile material rolls 43. The user then installssteel earth anchors, having loop-shaped eyelets, into the soil, aligningthe anchors along the side of the line of rolls that is closest to thecoastal waters 44. For each unique anchor, the user will thread a uniquestrand of rope through the eyelet of the anchor and then underneath theadjacent wave energy reduction roll, positioning each strand of rope ina rough “U” shape underneath the roll with the “U” pointing upward 45.The user will pull the rope ends tightly against the top of the roll andtie the rope, 46, thereby finishing this alternate method, 47.

While the present invention has been described above in terms ofspecific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to these disclosed embodiments. Upon reading the teachings ofthis disclosure many modifications and other embodiments of theinvention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which thisinvention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by boththis disclosure and the appended claims. It is indeed intended that thescope of the invention should be determined by proper interpretation andconstruction of the appended claims and their legal equivalents, asunderstood by those of skill in the art relying upon the disclosure inthis specification and the attached drawings.

I claim:
 1. A wave energy reduction system devoid of a flocculantcomprising: (a) one or more wave energy reduction rolls, each rollcomprising a geotextile mat rolled into a roughly cylindrical shape andplaced in or at the edge of water near a shoreline; (b) a multiplicityof cable ties, with the cable ties wrapped and tied around the roll atperiodic intervals along its length in order to maintain its cylindricalshape; (c) a fastening means comprised of a multiplicity of anchorsspaced evenly along the length of the roll, with each anchor made of ahard material, attached to the substrate of the shore, and alsocomprising an eyelet allowing it to be further secured to another objectwith a rope, cable, or other means; and (d) a number of pieces ofwater-resistant rope equal to the number of anchors used, each piece ofrope being wrapped around the roll, inserted through the eyelets of theanchors, and securely tied at the top of the roll.
 2. The wave energyreduction system of claim 1, wherein the anchors comprise steel.
 3. Thewave energy reduction system of claim 1, wherein multiple wave energyreduction rolls are placed end-to-end in or at the edge of water near ashoreline.
 4. The wave energy reduction system of claim 1, furthercomprising a multiplicity of pieces of water-resistant flexible tubingof sufficient diameter to allow a rope or a second piece ofwater-resistant flexible tubing to be threaded through.
 5. The waveenergy reduction system of claim 4, wherein each rope is threadedthrough a piece of flexible tubing to form a rope-and-tubingcombination.
 6. The wave energy reduction system of claim 5, wherein therope-and-tubing combination is threaded through a second piece offlexible tubing to form another rope-and-tubing combination.
 7. The waveenergy reduction system of claim 6, wherein the rope-and-tubingcombination is threaded through the eyelet of the anchor and securelytied at the top of the roll.
 8. A wave energy reduction apparatus devoidof a flocculant comprising: (a) a geotextile mat rolled into a roughlycylindrical shape; (b) a multiplicity of cable ties wrapped and tiedaround the roll at periodic intervals along its length in order tomaintain its cylindrical shape; (c) a fastening means comprised of amultiplicity of anchors spaced evenly along the length of the roll, witheach anchor made of a hard material, attached to the substrate of theshore, and also containing an eyelet allowing it to be further securedto another object with a rope, cable, or other means; and (d) a numberof pieces of water-resistant rope equal to the number of anchors used,each piece of rope being wrapped around the roll, inserted through theeyelets of the anchors, and securely tied at the top of the roll.
 9. Thewave energy reduction apparatus of claim 8, wherein the anchors comprisesteel.
 10. The wave energy reduction apparatus of claim 8, furthercomprising a multiplicity of pieces of water-resistant flexible tubingof sufficient diameter to allow a rope or a second piece ofwater-resistant flexible tubing similar in diameter to said rope to bethreaded through, with each piece of tubing inserted through the eyeletof said anchor.